Medical Keywords - Everything you need to know about health.

Treatment of PE-SSRIs

One possible treatment that has been suggested for premature ejaculation is administering one of the drugs in the drug family known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs are more commonly referred to as anti-depressants and include such drugs as Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac.

Do SSRIs work to treat premature ejaculation?

That is still a debated issue inside the medical community. Some believe that SSRIs can be effective as treatments for premature ejaculation. The Food and Drug Administration has still not approved SSRIs for the particular use of treating premature ejaculation. That does make some rather cautious doctors reluctant to prescribe them for this use. However, this is a very common approach. Some people who have taken them for this purpose are pleased with the results they have received.

Possible benefits of SSRI treatment

The hope is that SSRI treatment can produce impressive delays in ejaculation. This has been observed in some people who take daily SSRI treatment. The delay in ejaculation is also found in men with erectile difficulties. The SSRI drugs are the most effective solution. They are prescribed in lower dosages than for people taking them for treatment of depression.

Possible negatives of SSRI treatment

SSRI drugs are very powerful drugs. They are not without significant side effects. No one should take SSRI's lightly. SSRI's may be worth a try but anyone should approach the use of anti-depressants with caution. Every body responds differently. Most men need to try more than one anti-depressant to find a balance between intended and useful effects and inconvenient side effects. Another factor is that for depression SSRIs take a long time to become effective, and that is also true for the anti premature ejaculation effect. Take a hard look at the sexual side effects of these drugs too. At the lower doses it may not be a problem; however, some of them have a nasty habit of killing libido.

Other considerations

Be patient. Taper the use of SSRIs on and off slowly with the only exception being an allergic or other sudden reaction that may require intervention. Remember that the effects can be slow in coming, and your response will be gradual. Suddenly starting or stopping any drug can put you in an undesirable condition, exacerbating the very symptoms that made you seek therapy. Monitor and change doses gradually, a 10% dose change per week is a rule of thumb, not an absolute standard but it works for most. If any of the listed side effects concern you, you can get a test for that condition BEFORE starting the new drug. However, if the listed side effect is, for example, retrograde ejaculation, a good idea is to keep a log or medical record as to your experience with that condition before starting therapy. That is the best way to have a valid evaluation of your actual side effects after therapy begins. In conclusion, SSRI treatment could definitely be worth a try for people who suffer from premature ejaculation. It could very well be the best solution if it works.